Actress Jodie Whittaker has been named the 13th Doctor in the Doctor Who series.

She will be the first female Doctor in the history of the show. The news came as a surprise to many fans.

Whittaker will replace Peter Capaldi in the role, BBC announced today. The long-awaited news was revealed on-screen after the Wimbledon men’s tennis finals, as well as on Twitter with a short video that featured a hooded Whittaker revealing her face and stepping into the Doctor’s mode of transportation, the TARDIS.

Whittaker has previously appeared in movies like Attack the Block and One Day.

The actress said: “I’m beyond excited to begin this epic journey – with every Whovian on this planet. It’s more than an honour to play the Doctor. It means remembering everyone I used to be, while stepping forward to embrace everything the Doctor stands for: hope. I can’t wait.”

Most fans were delighted by the news and expressed their joy on social media.

Jodie Whittaker is an incredible actress, an amazing person, and I'm so glad she's the new #DoctorWho

Doctor Who originally ran from 1963 to 1989, and was revived to acclaim in 2005. Its longevity is partly due to its plot. The central character, known only as the Doctor, can travel across space and time and can regenerate into new bodies – allowing for endless recasting of the role.

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